'Mythbusters' Host Jessi Combs Killed in Jet-Car Crash

She was 36

BY Josiah HughesPublished Aug 28, 2019

Jessi Combs, the race car driver who moonlighted as host of the hit show Mythbusters, has died. Combs was killed during her most recent stunt, in which she was attempting to break her own land-speed record. She was 36.

Combs was involved in the fatal crash during her attempt on Tuesday (August 27) while in a jet-car driving on a dry lake bed in Oregon. According to reports, she was attempting to reach a speed of 619 mp/h — or 996 km/h.

This afternoon, the news was confirmed by the Discovery Channel, which said, "The Discovery and MotorTrend family is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Jessi Combs.... She was a friend and colleague, an icon in the industry, and an undeniable force of nature who left an indelible mark on the car world. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones."

Combs had previously been named "the fastest woman on four wheels" after achieving 398 miles per hour while driving the North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenge. She had been aiming to hit 619 miles in the latest stunt, but crashed and ultimately died.

See Combs' Instagram post announcing the stunt below. 
 


Combs' team member Terry Madden shared a montage of the driver on Instagram, writing, "She was truly my unicorn and I enjoyed every single minute that I had with her."

View this post on Instagram

So I don't know how to say any of this but it all needs said. I have never loved or been loved by anyone as much as this amazing woman @thejessicombs she was truly my unicorn and I enjoyed every single minute that I had with her. She was the most amazing spirit that I have ever or will ever know. Unfortunately we lost her yesterday in a horrific accident, I was the first one there and trust me we did everything humanly possible to save her!! I'm not ok, but she is right here keeping my going-I made her a promise that if this didn't go well that I would make sure and do good with it, please help me with that, you are all going to see things on news please believe non of them.. we the family have drafted a release and it will come out today with more proper info, but I was just woke up by the media tracking me down and I need everyone of her true friends to do what she would want "take a deep breath, relax" and do good things with this. Please donate to nothing, I know there will be people try, we are finishing the documentary as she wished and the world will know the truth and her foundation will use those funds to do amazing things in this world and make her legacy live on properly. In the coming days her family and I will get the proper channels put together that you can then donate to that foundation but until you hear it from me wait please-I don't want some asshole profiting off this (all ready had one try to sell us a video)... . . Love you all and thank you all for being such amazing friends to her, she dedicated her life to helping support others dreams and I promise I will continue that.

A post shared by Terry L. Madden (@terry_madden) on

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